Installing a sustainable kitchen: The complete guide
Care about the environment? Your next kitchen renovation could be eco-friendly – creating a space that’s better for its occupants and the planet.
To help you make your reno green, we’ve spoken to the experts and come up with a quick guide to sustainable kitchens.
Keep everything you can
As a rule of thumb – the most sustainable option is to keep your original kitchen in its entirety. But if you’re in serious need of an update and some parts of the space need to go, try to keep, recycle and repurpose everything you can. The fewer new items you buy, the less impact your reno will have on the environment.
Select water-efficient fixtures and energy-efficient appliances
Choosing water-efficient fixtures and fittings and energy-efficient appliances is an easy win for any kitchen renovation.
- When it comes to taps, look for something with a water rating of five or six stars (out of a possible six), like the 304 pull out tap by Gareth Ashton.
- Appliances are given an ‘energy rating’ out of a possible five stars, so look for something with at least a four or five.
This may cost a little extra up front, but it could save you thousands in the long run.
Go induction over gas
Induction cooking is faster than gas, it’s safer, doesn’t impact air quality and it’s better for the environment. Electricity will eventually be produced mainly from sustainable sources so it’s time to transition from gas sooner rather than later.
Find sustainably sourced, local materials
When sourcing timber, stone and metals for your kitchen renovation it’s always better to look closer to home first. Buying from Australian businesses not only supports Aussie families, it also cuts down on transport emissions required to ship products from overseas.
Look for timber grown locally like Australian Oak and go for products with the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification and Forest Stewardship Council stamp of approval.
Specify low or no VOC paints and finishes
Plenty of sealants, paints and finishes for kitchen renos contain petrochemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These harm the environment when they’re produced and can harm your health by slowly releasing gases after they’re installed in your home, substantially reducing air quality.
Luckily avoiding these should be as easy as only using VOC-free products and asking your installer about these.
Think about end of use
When installing any sustainable kitchen it’s important to consider what may happen to its materials when they reach their end of life. Are they recyclable? How will they affect the environment?
Materials like timber and granite are easily recyclable and don’t leach chemicals into landfills (if they end up there) whereas vinyls, plastics and petrochemical-based sealants may be more harmful.
Another thing to think about is when that end of life may be. Choosing longer lasting materials is a great way to reduce the impact your kitchen has on the environment (and save you the hassle of replacing them in a few year’s time).